Special status still eludes Andhra

Ten months may have passed since Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, but nothing has moved on the ground with regard to the tall promises and assurances that were made during the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014, that includes conferring of special category status on the residuary state.

The Union government is tight- lipped about whether it will accord special category status apparently apprehending such demands from other states like Bihar. The indications that are available now is that the Centre will allocate necessary funds to the state government for spending and may take a call on special status only at a later stage.

What added to the woes of Andhra Pradesh is the 14th Finance Commission report, which has not made any distinction between normal and special category status states. This actually changed the mindset of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, which initially displayed signs of trying to accommodate the concerns of the Andhra Pradesh government as far as the special category status is concerned.

Government sources told this newspaper the special category status issue is very sensitive and that is the reason why the BJP administration is treading very slow on it. “The 14th Finance Commission has not made any distinction between special category status states and non- special category status states. In fact, the committee recommends doing away with the special category tag,” the source said.

However, the sources added that the government was still examining whether it was possible to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh as it was a commitment made during the passage of the Act.

Special category status to Andhra Pradesh was promised on the floor of the House by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP, which was then in Opposition, said it would extend the special category status to 10 years if it came to power.

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu had more than once expressed his displeasure over the Union government’s reluctance in giving generous funds to the state and also over delaying the announcement on special category status.